DENIS Smith believes an injury-free Jim Whitley can be the perfect foil to the free-scoring Mark Jones, writes Paul Whee-lock.

The pair lined-up in Saturday's 2-0 win at Rushden & Diamonds to form a central-midfield trio alongside captain Darren Ferguson.

Although it was top-scorer Jones who grabbed the headlines with a superb double-strike, Dragons manager Smith was quick to praise the contribution of Whitley, who was making his first league start in 11 months.

The 30-year-old - fully fit after a long-term knee injury - was impressive as he shielded Wrexham's back three and offered a platform for Jones to get forward.

Racecourse boss Smith knows his side's promotion push hangs heavily on the goals of Welsh prospect Jones, but he reckons Whitley can be as instrumental in keeping them out at the other end.

The Northern Ireland international's return coincided with the Reds' first clean sheet in nine games.

Smith said: 'Everyone is talking about us needing to score more goals but what we've got to do first is become harder to beat, and that means cutting down on the number of goals we've conceded.

'Jim helps us with that. He's the one defensive-minded midfielder we've got. In many respects, he was the original player in that position, but then he had his injuries, and Danny Williams came in and took over. But he's dropped back to centre half, and he's doing very well there.

'We've also got Matt Crowell, but he's not a defensive midfielder. So Jim gives us that bit of stability.'

Whitley was one of four changes on Saturday as Smith decided to shake things up after a run of three games without a win.

He did not disappoint his boss, who is still scouring the market for a front-runner.

The 17-year-old will be hoping he's done enough to keep his place for tomorrow's visit of Leyton Orient.

Smith expects Orient - who are fourth in League Two and knocked Premiership Fulham out of the FA Cup - will attack his side given the visitors' impressive on-the-road re-cord of seven wins in 12 games.

As only two teams have left the Racecourse with maximum points this season, the Reds chief reckons fans will be treated to a cracker.

He said: 'There have been times this season when teams have come here and tried to frustrate us because of our good home form.

'But looking at how they've played away from home, I'm expecting they'll come here for a win, which should make for a good, open, attacking game of football.'

Defenders Dennis Lawrence and Lee Roche are trying to shake-off the knocks that saw them miss the trip to Rushden, while young midfielder Levi Mackin has returned to training following a knee injury that has kept him out since October. nThe Dragons go to Newport County on Wednesday night for their rearranged FAW Premier Cup quarter-final.

* Wrexham will have no game on Saturday week, as scheduled opponents Cheltenham Town are in FA Cup action.